Stress-breaking attachment for teeth



' v 1 645,436 1927' w. l. LOTZE S TRESS BREAKING ATTACHMENT FOR TEETH Filed Oct. 16, 1926 TOR.

Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM I. LOTZE, OF INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA Application filed October 16, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in appliances used in dentistry and more particularly to devices known as stressbrealnng attachments for teeth.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and highly efficient stress-breaking attachment that shall be positive in action, shall have a long life and shall have no parts to get readily out of order.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stress-breaking attachment for teeth composed of a minimum number of parts, in

fact consisting of only two parts, a hollow tachment is so shaped and positioned to permit a minimization of lateral motion of the plate, because it does not allow it to flop around but allows it to have a limited movement. f

Vith the above and other objects in view mv invention consists in the combination, arrangement and details of construct on disclosed in the drawings and speclfication, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference I characters designate similar parts thruout the respective views,

Figure 1 is a top plan yiew of my Invention shown applied in position,

Figure 2 is a vertical elevatlon of my 1nvention in particular,

Figure 3 is a detail view showing a plan View of my invention in its relative position in plate work,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the tiltlng part of my invention, v

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional elevation of my invention showing the insert in the act of being introduced into the casing,-

Figure 6 is a View similar to F gure 2 but showing the insert in tilted posltion.

In the drawings, which are merely illus- STRESS-BREAKING ATTACHMENT FOR TEETH.

Serial No. 141,898.

trative of my invention A designates the base portion of a metal clasp fitting into or around a natural tooth as at B. C represents a new set of teeth in conjunction with which my invention is designed to be used. A sheet metal casing or frame 10 is shown which is hollow inside and which has the four walls, 18, 14, as side walls, 17 as the front wall, and 10 as the rear wall, while 11 is a roof connecting walls 13, 14 and 10 but extending only to a median vertical line, and at this point a transverse strip 12 projects upwardly beyond the roof 11, while walls 13 and 14 are made longer to connect with strip 12 for the purpose of providing a neck portion upon frame 10. The front wall 17 terminates short of the upper end of frame 10, and beginning with a median horizontal line the frame 10 is formed with a front opening 18 which extends to the very upper end of the frame, this opening communicating with the space in the neck composed of the ex tensions of walls 13, 14 and the rear strip 12. The upper edge of the front wall 17 may be beveled upwardly as at 16. The strip 12 provides an upper shoulder on frame 10, centrally thereof, while the beveled edge 16 forms a shoulder at the front of frame 10, formed at an angle to shoulder 12.

An insert, preferably of solid metal or other serviceable material is designated broadly 23, and consists of oppositely ex:- tending respectively upper and lower portions 23 and 28, formed upon a shank having a straight vertical front edge 23, and a I shoulder 20 formed upon portion 23 at right angles to edge 23 joins the latter; the shank has another straight edge 23 formed parallel with edge 23 and slightly longer; therefore the width of the shank of the insert 23 is equal to the width of the frame from the strip 12 as a point of beginning to the front edge of the frame. It will thus be seen that portion 23 of the insert 23 projects towards the left of edge 25 of the shank ofthis frame lO in a manner to allow the insert to tilt therein, reference will first be made to Figure 5 where it will be seen that the widest portion of the frame is at its lower end designated by thelower portion of the shank including its widened portion 23 is less in width than the space 15, but this portion of the shank can be introduced into the front opening 18 of the frame, and the insert pushed into the frame until the upper part of edge 23 of the insert abuts against shoulder or strip 12 of the frame, at which time the insert will be drawn upwardly to allow shoulder 22 of the insertto abut against roof 11 of the frame; at this time edge 23 of the insert will coincide with the front edge or edges 18 of the frame, while shoulder of the insert projects beyond the edges 18. The insert will then be drawn downwardly into the passage 15 of the frame until edge 23 abuts the inner surface of front wall 17, while edge 23 abuts shoulder or strip 12, while shoulder 20 is supported or suspended upon the beveled edge 16 of front wall 17. In this position of the insert it will be seen that there is left a space 25 at the upper end of the casing or frame 10, and a much narrower space 24 at the lower end of the frame 10 and that the insert 23 is flush with the upper and lower parts of frame 10 and is of the same length as the frame. Pressure falling. upon the tooth hav- I ing frame B attached thereto results in the tilting of the insert 23 as shoulder 20 of the insert can bear upon the beveled edge 16 of the frame 10, as the lower portion 23 of the insert is free to enter space 2 1.

I do not limit myself to exact details disclosed herein except in and by the claims subjoined hereto.

What I seek protection on and claim is 1. A device as described consisting of a hollow frame having a reduced neck projecting beyond one end thereof, said frame being open in a plane with said neck, an insert consisting of a. body of the same length of the frame with its neck, but of lesser width relatively thereto means associated with said insert and frame for positioning said insert in said frame, and means on said insert engageable with said frame to hold said insert against displacement from said rame. r V

2. A device as described consisting of a hollow frame having a reduced neck eatension at one corner thereof, said frame being open at itsfront above'a median line, said opening communicatingwith said neck, an insert having one end made wider than the neckbut of sufficient dimension to enter said frame opening, means for suspending said insert in said frame allowing it to tilt therein, and a shoulder formed in a plane with the lower portion of said insert engageable with said frame adjacent said neck so as to be limited against movement insaid frame.

3. A device as described consisting of a hollow frame open at one end and also at the side, an insert of the same length as said frame and capable of projecting into said frame side opening to register inside said frame, saidframe being formed with an intermediate beveled shoulder, with a central shoulder offset, and with an opening in said offset, said insert consisting of oppositely-extending portions providing oppositely eX- tending shoulders, one of the insert shoulders adapted to ride upon said beveled shoulder of the frame and designed to be supported thereby, while the other insert shoulder being designed to coact with said frame to be limited in movement by the latter.

4. A device as described consisting of a stress-breaking member consisting of a shank having oppositely extending portions above and below a median line providing opposing shoulders at right angles to the axis of said shank, a casing consisting of a four-sided hollow body having a roof extending to midway the width of said casing, 21 three/sided neck extension being formed in a plane with said roof so as to project therebeyond but being open at the front of the frame and at its top, said frame having a. front opening above its" median line and communicating with the neck opening, the lower of the 019-. pos'itely extending portions of said member being adapted to enter the neck and frame front opening to position the other portion within saidframe, said frame having a, beveled shoulder engaged by one shoulder of said shank, whereby the member may rock upon the beveled shonlder, the other shoul der of said shank serving as a stop engage: able with the roof of the frame to limit the movement of said member.

In witness whereof he has hereunto set his hand this thirteenth day of September, 1926.

lVILLIAM I. LOTZE. 

